Under the slide of my 2001 Sierra are two -- what I would call -- guide rods. One end of each rod is attached to the outer part of the lide, the other end goes through a hole in the frame and is attached to nothing. They just slide in and out with the slide-out.
One rod is used to hold an electrical cable up (this cable provides power to the lamp over the dining table). The other rod was not used for anything...
That unused rod apparently got caught in the hole in the frame, and bent all to heck. I'll just remove it completely.
Anyone else ever have this problem? Any ideas on preventing the other rod from having this problem?
arizonakid wrote: Under the slide of my 2001 Sierra are two -- what I would call -- guide rods. One end of each rod is attached to the outer part of the lide, the other end goes through a hole in the frame and is attached to nothing. They just slide in and out with the slide-out.
One rod is used to hold an electrical cable up (this cable provides power to the lamp over the dining table). The other rod was not used for anything...
That unused rod apparently got caught in the hole in the frame, and bent all to heck. I'll just remove it completely.
Anyone else ever have this problem? Any ideas on preventing the other rod from having this problem?
My bet is that the slide frame is used for multiple applications where the power cord might come from the other side. Rather than only supply one rod that has to be moved to the side where needed, thus providing an opportunity for one of the semi-skilled laborers at the factory to screw it up, they just put 2 rods on. Sounds very much like the rod was cut a couple inches too short and, when the slide was fully extended, it fell out of the frame hole, got caught up on the frame, and bent when the slide was retracted.
Lyle
2002 GMC Sierra 2500 HD Duramax Crew Cab 4x4
Banks Bullet Tuner and Monster Exhaust
B&W Turnover Ball with 5th Wheel Companion
2004 Komfort 25FSG Fifth Wheel
1936 John Deere Model A
International Flying Farmers 55 Year Member
Yes, and fortunately it was the unused rod...
I'll remove the whole thing, including the plate where it attached to the outer part of the slide.... note I had already trimmed that plate since it looked like it could interfere with the left front tire in te event of hitting a bump.
the unit may have had an option available for another electrical service like an outlet near the floor or a built in of some kind and they find it easier to just install both the support rods regardless if that option is ordered rather than issue paper-work for the builders to delete it.
That rod just contributes to weight and something a tire shedding it's tread can grab and fling around to do even more damage.
Today is just the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!
bstark wrote: .....That rod just contributes to weight and something a tire shedding it's tread can grab and fling around to do even more damage.
Another good reason to eliminate it, in addition to the possibility of its jamming up. I cut out the entire (welded) tab that holds it.
The rod was of proper length -- I think it jammed because it got rusty and rough-surfaced, and the frame hole that supported the free end wasn't cleanly drilled.
I removed the other rod (its outer support was screwed to the slide frame), reamed the frame hole to make it smooth, sanded the rod to smooth it, greased the rod, and reinstalled it. Hopefully that one will be OK.
I noticed that with the slide in, the existing guide or wire support rod was inside the frame rail 46" with no support, and when going over minor bumps would hit a frame cross member (ting ting). And it's flapping like that concerned me....
I mounted a length of 1" PVC pipe into which the support rod would go, positioned on the path of the rod. In fact, with the slide out, the rod was 10" inside the frame rail, so I made the PVC pipe about 66" long (inner distance between the frame rails) so that the rod was always within the pipe.
I secured each end of the pipe, making sure the angle of the pipe matched the path of the rod opened and closed.
Should be no more tinging, and no more chance for the rod to get hung up and get bent like the other one did.
Offline
